Veterinary Services

·         Increase in cattle foetal submissions

·         Review of outbreaks and control of nematodirosis in lambs

·         Abortions and ewe deaths due to Salmonella Montevideo

·         Investigations on behalf of Police Wildlife Crime Officers

Disease alerts

The following conditions were reported by SAC VS in June 2008. Given similar conditions, they could be important in 2009.

Deaths and abortions in cows due to tick associated infections
Neonatal goitre in cattle and sheep
Lamb deaths due to nematodirosis
Pleuropneumonia in finishing pigs
 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The mean temperature for the month was one degree Celsius above the 1971 to 2000 average. Sunshine hours were high, particularly in eastern Scotland with 150 percent of the thirty year mean. Northern Scotland had 124 percent of the thirty year mean rainfall, while other parts were dryer than normal.

The Scottish Government published the annual survey of agriculture. This confirmed a continuing decline in Scottish livestock numbers. All the major livestock sectors were affected, with pigs showing a decline of 15 percent. Sheep numbers were down by 7.7 percent and total cattle by 2.7 percent. Poultry numbers were down by 3.5 percent and the December 2008 agricultural workforce by 4.6 percent.

SAC issued a Nematodirus warning to sheep farmers, given the rapid rise in spring temperatures leading to an increased risk of disease in new season lambs.